the big prize is still finding some way to get conservative republicans to vote with john boehner but you're right. this is the reason that all the details are in secret is because negotiators are kind of suggesting and hinting at ways they may bend and flex but the reason they never want any details to get public is that if one side is going to bend, they're going to expect the other side to bend, too, and only until everybody get their bending sort of alined can they present them to their sides because the minute democrats hear entitlements will be touched they'll want to know what they're getting in return. same with republicans. so you're right the same dynamic is in play. republicans say if we're going to raise tax rates what are we going to get in return. democrats say raising tax rates isn't much of a prize. we won the election. if you're asking us to do these big cuts -- >> what would happen if the president said to john boehner, this is where i will cut education and entitlements and medicare, what would the republicans do then? >> well, he's saying that in a way in these neg